You can book several half- and full-day tours of the city and its environs at the visitor center. The half-day tours cover sightseeing highlights, while all-day tours usually include something of the east or west suburbs, the zoo, and the vineyards.

Mike's Garden Tours (tel./fax 09/846-5350) are the only ones that combine sightseeing with private garden visits. There are several options, ranging in price from NZ$75 to NZ$160 (US$53-US$114/£27-£58) for adults, half-price for children ages 5 to 15.

Tamaki Hikoi (tel. 0800/282-552 in NZ), is a 3-hour Maori walking tour through Auckland. A guide from the Ngati Whatua tribe retells legends, beginning at the dormant volcano of Mount Eden. After a picnic lunch, you continue past local landmarks, finishing at the downtown waterfront. The tour costs NZ$80 (US$57/£29) per person. There is also a 1-hour tour of Mount Eden for NZ$30 (US$21/£11). It's an easy to moderate walk, mainly on road surfaces, but wear sensible walking shoes.

Bush & Beach (tel. 09/837-4130) will take you out to the wild west coast to experience the elemental side of Auckland. Half- or full-day tours can include a gannet colony, winery visits, and virgin rainforest. They cost NZ$125 to NZ$185 (US$89-US$131/£45-£67) per person. They also offer an all-day tour to Great Barrier Island for NZ$545 (US$387/£196) per person. Children under 12 are half-price. Make sure you wear sensible walking shoes.

For a range of tours with a Maori flavor, contact Potiki Adventures (tel. 0800/692-3836 in NZ). From a Northland marae stay to gathering shellfish and learning about flax weaving and Maori plant medicine, the company can organize personalized itineraries or take you on a full-day tour for NZ$145-NZ$185 (US$103-US$131/£52-£67) adults, or NZ$75 (US$53/£27) children under 15. They're the only company taking people to Otara Markets -- probably the largest Polynesian market you will ever get to see.

One of the best wine tours is with Auckland Scenic Wine Trail Tours [ST] (tel. 09/630-1540). It specializes in taking small groups to leading growers. Half- and full-day tours cost NZ$95 to NZ$225 (US$67-US$160/£34-£81) per person. The full-day Matakana tour, which costs NZ$185 (US$131/£67) per person, introduces you to the wines of one of the loveliest rural areas near the city. Auckland Fine Wine Tours (tel./fax 09/849-4519) has a great choice of half-day food and wine tours for NZ$139 to NZ$159 (US$99-US$113/£50-£57) and full-day tours from NZ$239 to NZ$259 (US$170-US$184/£86-£93). The Great Auckland Food Tour is especially good. It introduces you to cheese making, ice cream, a busy fish market, delis, a chocolate boutique, a distillery, and a winery. The NZ$200 price (US$142/£72) per person includes a cafe lunch.

If you're a keen beer drinker, you might like to try Lionzone, the Lion beer experience, 380 Khyber Pass Rd., Newmarket (tel. 09/358-8300). Lion Brewery is the home of New Zealand's biggest beer brand, and Steinlager is its flagship international beer. Tours begin daily at 9:30am, 12:15pm, and 3pm and cost NZ$15 (US$11/£5.40) adults, NZ$7.50 (US$5.35/£2.70) children ages 5 to 15, NZ$40 (US$28/£14) families.

On the Water

With 96 boat charter companies, Auckland won't deprive you of an opportunity to get out on the waves. Fullers Auckland, Ferry Building, Quay Street (tel. 09/367-9111), is one company that makes it easy. One of its best-value deals if you're on a tight itinerary is the Harbour Cruise, a 1 1/2-hour sightseeing excursion that shows off Viaduct Harbour, Devonport Naval Base, and the Harbour Bridge, with coffee and commentary. Fares are NZ$30 (US$21/£11) for adults, NZ$15 (US$11/£5.40) for children ages 5 to 15. The cruise includes a return ticket to Devonport so passengers can visit the seaside village at their leisure, or on any scheduled Fullers sailing. Tours depart from Pier 3, Quay Street, at 10:30am and 1:30pm. Fullers also has a Volcanic Explorer option that visits Rangitoto Island at a cost of NZ$55 (US$39/£20) adults, NZ$26 (US$18/£9.35) children ages 5-15, and several Waiheke Island Explorer options, including a Waiheke Vineyard Tour for around NZ$90 (US$64/£32).

After winning the America's Cup twice, New Zealand is big on yachting. The Pride of Auckland, at the National Maritime Museum, Quay Street (tel. 09/373-4557), offers five daily events, including a 2 1/2-hour dinner cruise for NZ$100 (US$71/£36); the price includes admission to the National Maritime Museum. The Maritime Museum's own cruises on heritage vessels are a little cheaper, but the luncheon cruise has a boxed lunch as opposed to a sit-down meal; it's also shorter and on an entirely different type of vessel. All are excellent experiences.

If you want tall ship sailing, the Soren Larsen (tel. 0800/767-365 in NZ, or 09/817-8799), star of The Onedin Line, is your vessel. You can book day sails, coffee cruises, or holiday voyages, which include a 5-night sailing cruise between Auckland and the Bay of Islands. Auckland day trips start at NZ$120 (US$85/£43) per person, longer voyages at NZ$1,495 (US$1,061/£538), which includes all meals. The New Zealand season is December through February.

Sail New Zealand (tel. 0800/397-567 in NZ, or 09/359-5987), offers a variety of tours in both Auckland and the Bay of Islands. NZL 40, NZL41, and Lion New Zealand are all available for sailing or match-race tours.

Island Escape

If you feel like spoiling yourself, join Island Escape Cruises (tel. 09/358-1717) for a 6-day luxury cruise of Hauraki Gulf islands. Make your home in one of the boat's 10 big cabins and enjoy fishing trips, picnics ashore, bush walks, and expeditions from the ship by helicopter or boat. The 42m (138-ft.) Island Passage is stylish from start to finish and this adventure guarantees memories to write home about. The 6-day cruise is around NZ$1,600 to NZ$3,850 (US$1,136-US$2,733/£576-£1,386) double, which includes all meals, snorkel equipment, fishing gear, and boat tours.